DPP mulls adding anti-corruption rules to platform

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is contemplating tacking on to its platform an anti-corruption chapter to boost its image, but this idea has been given the cold shoulder by a leading lawmaker.

Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯), head of the DPP's Cultural and Communications Department, said the chapter would incorporate three principles -- a ban on moonlighting by DPP lawmakers, a requirement for DPP public officials to put their assets into trust and a request to avoid conflicts of interest.

Tsai said the ban on moonlighting was necessary after two DPP lawmakers who run hospitals were indicted for fraud for inflating their hospitals' reimbursement claims from the Bureau of National Health Insurance.

He said DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun hopes the new rules would help the party clean-up its image and regain the public's confidence.

However, DPP caucus whip Chen Chin-jun (陳景峻) is opposed to the move, claiming it will give credence to critics' claims that the DPP is riddled with corruption.